Things to do
LITTLE STAR: Aimed at babies aged 6-18 months and their carers, Little Star is a musical, sensory show. Puppetry, crescent moons and fluffy clouds all feature, and it takes place in a relaxed setting, making it an ideal first theatre experience. Blue Elephant Theatre (Camberwell), £5/£3, book ahead, 10.30am/12.30pm/2.30pm
PLANT DESIGN: Ever heard of Hugo de Vries? The Dutch botanist was one of the first to claim that science would allow plants and animals to be designed to order. History of Science professor Jim Endersby talks about his work, as well as other perspectives on plant mutation. Barnard's Inn Hall (Holborn), free, just turn up, 6pm-7pm
ROYAL SOCIETY LATES: The Royal Society stays open late for an evening celebrating science fiction. Get an insight into Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, learn about what the foods of the future might look (and taste) like, and attend talks about the science of Frankenstein and Victorian sci-fi. The Royal Society, free, just turn up, 6.30pm
FICTION LAB: The Royal Institution's monthly Fiction Lab is a book club for anyone who enjoys reading fiction with a science slant. This time, focus is on My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh, a novel about one woman's experiment in narcotic hibernation. If you've read the book, why not drop by and discuss it with other literature lovers? Royal Institution (Mayfair), free, just turn up, 7pm
SHAKESPEARE IMPROV: Shakespeare purists, look away now. The Improvised Shakespeare Show takes the Bard's language, and suggestions from the audience, to create a new play live on stage, with music, songs and comedy. Hen & Chickens Theatre (Highbury & Islington), £10.75 book ahead, 7.30pm
MONDAY NIGHT MUSIC: The Jim Hammond Duo perform at tonight's Monday Night Music session in the bar at Wilton's. Expect plenty of blues and country tunes at the intimate event. Wilton's (Limehouse), free, just turn up, 7.30pm-9pm
COMEDY: Comedian Lulu Popplewell tries out some new gags at a work-in-progress show. She was a finalist for the Chortle Student Comedy Award and Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year Award, so we're expecting great things from her next show.Pleasance Theatre (Islington), £5, book ahead, 7.45pm
GRANNY'S ATTIC: Folk trio Granny's Attic play at an intimate live gig. Expect to hear a blend of English, Irish and Scottish music, both traditional songs and their own work. The Slaughtered Lamb (Clerkenwell), £12, book ahead, 8.15pm
London weather with Inclement Attlee
Our idiosyncratic weather forecaster returns, keeping you up to date on London's skies.
Storm Ciara gave London a bit of a battering, shutting down the Royal Parks, disrupting trains and causing mischief for many. If you get your forecast from the Daily Express, though, you're probably thinking that we got away lightly. Here are five headlines relating to the storm:
"Horror maps show which areas of the UK will feel FULL FORCE of storm"
"200 flights CANCELLED as brutal storm morphs into WEATHERBOMB"
"UK snow warnings MAPPED: Storm Ciara to BURY Britain in heavy snow"
"Storm Ciara forces brutal blizzards and 80mph winds on to battered UK"
"Queen heartbreak: Monarch forced to cancel church visit over Storm Ciara safety fears"
Oh dear. You can read at least 20 further alarmist stories about this one storm over at Express Online. I won't provide a link.
Contact Mr Attlee with any weather-related thoughts or pictures by emailing [email protected]; subject line "For Mr Attlee".
Tube ponderings with Barry Heck
Our resident tube fancier dishes out daily thoughts on the London Underground.
My Roundel of the Week is a little-known use of the logo from London Transport's history. From 1933, employees would wear a colour-coded cap badge in the shape of the roundel, to show there wages grade. This set is on show at London Transport Museum. The top row shows (left to right):
Blue/white: Central Area buses (until about 1985)
Green: Country Buses & Coaches (until 1970)
Yellow ochre: railways (until 1985)
Red: trams (until 1952) and trolleybus (until 1962)
The lower row shows supervisor badges.
Blue/silver: Central Buses inspector
Green/gold: County Buses inspector
Green/amber: Green Line controller
Blue: Bus driving instructor
Follow Barry on Twitter @HeckTube.
Good cause of the day
The UK's first Rare Film Festival takes place tonight, showcasing films to raise awareness of rare diseases. Various charities, patients and healthcare professional are present, to offer more insight into some of the illnesses portrayed on screen. Find out more and book tickets.
What we're reading
- Tooley Street footbridge at London Bridge station to be demolished.
- The decades-long rivalry of two London vampire hunters.
- Why some people fear changes to e-scooter laws.
- Just 4% of Hampstead ponds bathers pay the honesty fee.
